Summary

Introduction

Livigno, also known as "Little Tibet", is located in the Lombardy region of the Italian Alps, near the Swiss border 1,816 m (5,958 ft) above sea level.

The Livigno administration, along with like-minded hoteliers, have begun to promote sport in this area. Visiting athletes have been attracted by Livigno’s height above sea level, the Alpine air, new sporting facilities and much improved roads. Accommodation, restaurant and shopping costs also reflect that Livigno is a duty-free area and no Italian VAT (Value Added Tax) is paid. Luca Moretti, President of APT Livigno, sees plenty of opportunities to develop this area and has plans to introduce an athletics track next year.

Outdoor training includes cycling (road and MTB), running and canoeing. For those who wish to train indoors, there is the Aquagranda Livigno Sport Fitness Centre with its large, fully equipped gym and a 25 m swimming pool.

The Italian National Swimming Team held their winter training camp here in preparation for 2016 Rio Olympic Games and the professional cycling team, Tinkoff-Saxo, stayed several times to help prepare its big named riders for the grand Tours.

Both Basketball and Volleyball teams have used Livigno as their training base, coupling the gym at the Aquagranda Livigno Sport Fitness Centre for fitness training and the Livigno Sports Hall for their sports specific training.

There is a shuttle service between the Malpensa and Linate airports and the Central Station. Zurich to St. Moritz by train followed by bus or taxi to Livigno Innsbruck to Merano by train followed by taxi to Livigno.

By train:Tirano Station is about 70 km from Livigno. There are regular connections with Milan, Stazione Centrale and Stazione Porta Garibaldi. Buses coincide with the train’s arrival and will take you to Perego Bormio and Livigno.

Accommodation

Accommodation

BivioLife, Livigno is a group of hotels who have embraced visiting athletes. One of their hotels is the Alpen Village Hotel which has built facilities for cyclists suitable for everyone, whether you are a professional, amateur or enthusiast; teams, groups of friends or individuals. The hotel offers road bike and MTB guides in the hotel, bike room, laundry machines for your cycling kit, sports specific menus, bicycle rental, fitness and training area and swimming pool.

Saxo-Tinkoff have stayed here and in a joint venture with the hotel organised summer Tinkoff Bike Academy camps when you could ride and train with the team’s cyclists.

Alpen Village Hotel has over 160 rooms all with private bathrooms some of which have their own balcony with panoramic views across Livigno. The hotel also has its own indoor pool with a bus stop directly outside for the free bus service into the town. The UNESCO-protected Bernina Railway is just under 14 miles away.

CANOEING and ROWINGAs used by the Italian Canoe and Kayak National TeamLake Livigno (Lago di Livigno) for sports specific training. The lake, which is over 10 km long, is a reservoir and it ranges between 1,700 m and 1,805 m above sea level depending on the amount of water held.Aquagranda Livigno Sport Fitness Centre; gym, weight training

CYCLINGAs used by OricaGreenedge, OmegaPharma, Katusha, SaxoTinkoff.Livigno offers a combination of flat roads and more challenging routes that lead to the most famous passes of Giro d'Italia, like Stelvio (highest pass at 2,757 meters), Gavia, Mortirolo, Foscagno, Forcola and Bernina.

There are three roads that take you out of Livigno. Two head to Switzerland, one through the Forcola di Livigno, elevation 2,315 metres and the second through the Munt La Schera tunnel. The third road connects to other parts of Italy through the Foscagno Pass, elevation 2,291 metres.

Mottolino Bike Park: The Park Livigno was opened during the 2005 MTB World Cup and offers 13 trails, a jump area and much more. They are opened beyween June and October.

RUNNINGThere are many running routes through the Alpine scenery. Flatter routes can be found along the plateaus between the high mopuntains and there is a 12-kilometer cycle path along the Spoel River. Alternatively, you can use one of the numerous Skyrunning trails spreading out from the town centre.

SWIMMINGAs used by the Italian Swimming FederationAquagranda Livigno Sport Fitness Centre has an indoor, 25 metre 5 lane swimming pool built with Myrtha technology. The pool has been used by International Swimming Federations for their altitude swim camps.

Testimonials

Testimonials

Roberto Del Bianco, Federal Councillor FIN:"Finding an Italian place like Livigno with good training conditions represents for the Federation a great opportunity. Here we can count not only on altitude training, but also on good equipped sports facilities like Aquagranda and on a very warm welcome."

Luca Moretti, President of APT Liivigno:"Livigno believes in sports tourism and is putting its foot down to promote the altitude training camps. Our altitude at 1,816 meters provide the optimal training conditions both in summer and in winter. In addition to Aquagranda Active You, there is currently underway an athletics track which will increase the services available."

Cesare Butini, technical director FIN:"Before the Olympics we are planning about 5 training camps at altitude, because for us the altitude training plays a fundamental role and in Livigno we found the best training conditions. The 25-meter pool is suitable for our preparation and they make it available to us in the best conditions we could wish for. we brought in Livigno a heterogeneous group with expert swimmers like the Captain Magnini but also very young athletes, also born in 1997, who have already won several titles."

Filippo Magnini, Captain of the National Team:"For us the training camp represents a good chance to train but also to team up. We spend most of our time away from home and it is very important for us to find a place where we can feel comfortable both from a sporting perspective and also regarding the food and the comfort atmosphere, the opportunity to carve out some time for us is essential. Here in Livigno we found all this. The work we are doing in view of the Rio 2016 started here and hopefully we will bear fruit. When I was young and I took my team captain Massimiliano Rosolino, as an example and I tried to do everything he did because I knew it couldn’t be a mistake. Now I hope to be the same example for the younger ones."

Federica Pellegrini:"We all are really working hard. We are training with care, even if the Olympics are still faraway, my goal is not to win at all costs, but to obtain good results bring out the best in me, because swimming is my passion and the thing I most love doing. Italian Olympic Flag bearer? I indicated my willingness but it's up to the Italian National Olympic Committee."

Giuseppe Buonfiglio and Antonio Cannone, Italian Canoeing & Kayaking National Team:“The presence in Livigno of the Italian canoe and kayak National Team - said Luca Moretti, president of Apt Livigno – represents our commitment to the athletes and federations who choose our facilities to train at altitude. We aim at providing a real support to them during the training camps.”

Stefano Feltrin, Tinkoff General Manager:“Having already spent time training at altitude here in Livigno, we know that the riders can prepare for the team's objectives in a perfect environment, with the desired infrastructure and conditions to concentrate 100% on training and recovery. The decision to return to this world-class location was an easy one for us and the choice of BivioLife Livigno was even easier. We feel at home there.”

Erio Galli, owner of Bivio Livigno Life:"We are very happy to count Tinkoff among our guests," explains Erio Galli, owner of Bivio Livigno Life. "They chose Livigno for their altitude training and Alpen Village for their stay and this is a confirmation that our efforts in the sport of cycling are heading in the right direction. We aim to offer all our guests services tailored to cycling and more generally to all athletes that want to train in altitude and stay in cozy lodging, in a cheerful and young atmosphere."

Training Camps

Cycling Packages

Alpen Village Hotelis suitable for all levels of cyclists, whether a team, club, group of friends or as individuals. The hotel has a cycling specific area within the hotel dedicated to your needs to give you the best experience during your stay. During your cycling week you will have plenty of opportunities to meet with professionals (including cyclists, nutritionists and sports doctors) to feed you information relevant to your sport.

Packages include:- Initial introduction followed by a briefing on the weekly program- Former professional cyclist to be your guide- Mechanical assistance on three different levels, some will be charge extra- Team car (where applicable)- Evening discussions on specific topics, such as nutrition, preparation, maintenance of the bike, etc.- Cycling specific breakfast buffet- Sportsman's Packed Lunch- Certificate of merit at the end of the week- Transfer from/ to the airports- Safe bike storage- Sportswear laundry- Bike washing area- Equipped workshop- Conventions with specialist shops- Wellness & Relax area, with small fitness area- Sport and draining massages

Bike Hire; Alpen Village Hotel work in partnership with Scott to bring you the latest bikes.